ABNORMALITIES OF THE COCONUT PALM. 
29 
The main axis of this inflorescence also was remarkably 
short, measuring only 5 inches from the point of insertion 
of the first bract to thel)ase of the terminal leaf stalk. 
It would appear that in these examples the bracts are 
an excessive development of normal bracts, and that their 
production is attended by the entire or partial suppression of 
the flowering branches. In the Minuwangoda example the 
female flowers are wanting, and in one region of the inflores- 
cence the flowering branches are represented by aborted 
spathes. In the Chilaw examples the flowering branches 
are replaced by aborted spathes in one case, while in the other 
they are completely wanting. 
Hypertrophy of the Perianth. 
A possible example of the abnormality figured by Masters 
on page 428 of his book was obtained at Matara in 1914. 
Unfortunately the specimen had been collected a long time pre- 
viously, and nothing could be ascertained regarding its history. 
Of the six segments of the perianth which are normally found 
beneath the coconut, four are present. These are quite normal. 
The perianth had been detached, and it is impossible to state 
whether two segments have been lost, or whether these are to be 
regarded as represented in or by the abnormal structures above. 
The place of the ordinary drupaceous fruit is occupied by 
two opposed structures. On the one side is a broad curved 
piece with some approach to the appearance of a flexed hand. 
It is evidently composed of five segments fused together 
laterally ; these are indicated by strong ridges and furrows on 
the convex outer surface, and by five triangular teeth into 
which it divides at its upper edge. The five segments arise 
side by side from the base and are practically all of the same 
size. Measuring round the curve this piece is 7 inches 
high and 6 inches broad ; its maximum thickness was one 
inch. The lobes at the upper margin are half an inch long, 
and owing to the curve are directed almost horizontally. 
Opposed to this is an erect, more or less oval structure, 6 
inches high and 2 inches in diameter. It is strongly 
longitudinally fluted, but it is not possible to correlate these 
ridges with the original structure of the flower. It arises 
